(19)
(11) EP 0 343 765 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
01.08.1990 Bulletin 1990/31

(43) Date of publication A2:
29.11.1989 Bulletin 1989/48

(21) Application number: 89301663.4

(22) Date of filing: 21.02.1989
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4: F16D 13/71
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR GB IT NL SE

(30) Priority: 28.04.1988 US 187308

(71) Applicant: DANA CORPORATION
Toledo, OH 43615 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Kummer, Martin E.
    Auburn, IN 46706 (US)
  • Flotow, Richard A.
    Butler, IN 46721 (US)

(74) Representative: Cheyne, John Robert Alexander Mackenzie et al
HASELTINE LAKE & CO. 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1AT
London WC2A 1AT (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Spring clutch assembly


    (57) A clutch assembly having an annular cover member (12) attached to an engine flywheel (16), an annular pressure plate (26) which is floatingly attached to the cover member (12) by a plurality of drive straps (40), a friction drive assembly (28) which is splined to a transmission shaft (38) for rotation therewith and sliding movement therealong, and which is positioned between the pressure plate (26) and the engine flywheel (16), a plurality of radially extending release levers (52), each of which is pivotably attached to the cover member (12) at a location between the ends of such release lever (52), and a belleville spring (60) trapped between the cover member (12) and the release levers (52) to normally bias the release levers (25) so that the outer end (52b) of each of them imposes a load on the pressure plate (26) which tends to urge the pressure plate (26) against the friction drive assembly (28) against the flywheel (12), each of the drive straps (40) having an outwardly projecting extension (40f) which is positioned between the pressure plate (26) and the outer end (52b) of an adjacent release lever (52) to prevent the outer end (52b) of the release lever (52) from imposing wear loads on the pressure plate (26).







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